BOOM
Four-star 2026 cornerback Jordan Thomas commits to Ohio State.
Tim Walton has added another talented playmaker to Ohio State's secondary.
Four-star New Jersey cornerback Jordan Thomas committed to Ohio State on Monday, giving the Buckeyes their 13th overall commit for the 2026 class and their second cornerback alongside Jakob Weatherspoon.
The Thomas File
- Class: 2026
- Size: 6-1/185
- Pos: Cornerback
- School: Bergen Catholic (Oradell, New Jersey)
- Composite Rating: ★★★★
- Composite Rank: #176 (#18 CB)
Thomas was offered by Ohio State in April 2024 and he never took the opportunity for granted.
“It felt amazing,” Thomas told Eleven Warriors in November as he recalled his Ohio State offer. “I felt very thankful and honored to be blessed with the opportunity to play at The Ohio State University. I would say the development is the most appealing part of potentially playing at OSU.”
The Buckeyes beat out more than 40 other Division I teams that offered Thomas for his commitment, including Notre Dame, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Miami, Oklahoma, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas and Texas A&M. Of those schools, Notre Dame and Michigan were the biggest challengers to the Buckeyes, but Ohio State's relationships with Thomas won out in the end.
Thomas’ commitment continues OSU’s success recruiting Bergen Catholic High School, as Ohio State freshman wide receiver Quincy Porter was Thomas' teammate last season.
| Pos | Name | Rating | Rank | Size | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WR | CHRIS HENRY JR. | ★★★★★ | #11 NATL | #2 WR | 6-5 | 205 | Mater Dei (Santa Ana, California) |
| S | BLAINE BRADFORD | ★★★★★ | #25 NATL | #2 S | 6-1 | 207 | Catholic (Baton Rouge, Louisiana) |
| S | SIMEON CALDWELL | ★★★★ | #102 NATL | #7 LB | 6-3 | 185 | The Bolles School (Jacksonville, Florida) |
| WR | KAYDEN DIXON-WYATT | ★★★★ | #107 NATL | #15 WR | 6-2 | 180 | Mater Dei (Santa Ana, California) |
| OT | MAXWELL RILEY | ★★★★ | #128 NATL | #8 OT | 6-5 | 280 | Avon Lake (Avon Lake, Ohio) |
| OT | SAM GREER | ★★★★ | #148 NATL | #13 OT | 6-6 | 310 | Archbishop Hoban (Akron, Ohio) |
| CB | JAKOB WEATHERSPOON | ★★★★ | #171 NATL | #14 S | 5-10 | 172 | Avon (Avon, Ohio) |
| CB | JORDAN THOMAS | ★★★★ | #176 NATL | #17 CB | 6-1 | 185 | Bergen Catholic (Oradell, New Jersey) |
| WR | JAEDEN RICKETTS | ★★★★ | #264 NATL | #45 WR | 6-0 | 187 | Watkins Memorial (Pataskala, Ohio) |
| LB | CJ SANNA | ★★★★ | #334 NATL| #25 LB | 6-3| 225 | Olentangy (Lewis Center, Ohio) |
| WR | BROCK BOYD | ★★★★ | #373 NATL | #59 WR | 6-2 | 183 | Southlake Carroll (Southlake, Texas) |
| TE | CORBYN FORDHAM | ★★★ | #460 NATL | #22 TE | 6-3 | 215 | The Bolles School (Jacksonville, Florida) |
| OL | TUCKER SMITH | ★★★ | #746 NATL | #65 IOL | 6-5 | 280 | Sandra Day O'Connor (Phoenix, Arizona) |
| Prospect Rating Data: 247Sports Composite | |||||
Thomas gives OSU lengthy, versatile cornerback
Per 247Sports' composite rankings, Thomas is considered the No. 176 prospect nationally and the No. 18 cornerback in the 2026 class.
Thomas said he's open to playing wherever Ohio State needs him to and can play either on the outside or in the slot.
“Ohio State is recruiting me as a defensive back that can play outside or inside,” Thomas said. “Starting out as a cornerback is the plan for my comfortability and eventually being able to move inside at star or nickel.
“I am a versatile athlete who understands the game and can make game-changing plays when the opportunity is provided. I can play all types of coverages and can shut down my side of the field as well as anyone who lines up against me in man coverage.”
In his junior season, Thomas recorded 52 tackles, an interception, nine pass deflections and a forced fumble.
At his size at 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, Thomas is equipped to handle whatever responsibilities Tim Walton and company throw his way, as he's a sure tackler and excels in coverage. He primarily played outside cornerback for his high school. His length allows him to have success when pressing bigger wide receivers and he has true ballhawk instincts. It seems clear he'll stick at cornerback at the collegiate level and not move to safety, it's just a matter of whether OSU ultimately decides to use him as an outside or slot cornerback after evaluating him in early practices.
With the loaded cornerback room Walton has produced over the past few seasons, it'll be a challenge for Thomas to see extended playing time in year one, but he has the upside to be a future starter in Ohio State’s secondary.
